Attachment for fastening trays or the like to supporting structures



April 21, 1931. y M, c oLs 1,801,637

ATTACHMENT FOR FASTENING TRAYS OR THE LIKE TO, SUPPORTING STRUCTURESFiled Oct. 2 1928 INVENTOR Jar-m MACDONALD N IHOL5.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHNMACDONALD NICHOLS, OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK ATTACHMENT FOR FASTENING TRAYSOR THE LIKE TO SUPPORTING STRUCTURES Application filed October 26, 1928.

My invention relates to devices or attachments for fastening a tray orthe like to a table, desk, chair or other supporting structure.

An object of the invention is to provide, in

an attachment of the above character, an adjustable clamp by means ofwhich it (the attachment) may be removably tho firmly fastened in place.i

A further object of the invention is to so mount that part or portion ofthe attachment constituting a support for the tray or receptacle as toadmit of its free swinging movement from an extended position out fromunder the table top (when fastened to a table) to a retracted positionor a position of nonuse either partlally or wholly therebeneath. A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide, as a means for fasteningsaid tray support to said clamp, a socket fitting; said fitting beingcarried by and rotatably adjustable in its relation to said clamp, andsaid support being detachable from and adapted to engage within thesocket of said fitting.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like orcorresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the 39 attachment fastened to theedge of a card table and supporting an ash tray extended for use;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the attachmentfastened as in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the socket fitting and a portion of theforked end arm adapted to engage therewith.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, acollapsible card table is designated in its entirety as 10. Preferablythe attachment 11 is fastened to said table beneath the covering 12therefor. Said covering, usually fabric, is freely removable and may ormay not overhang the edges of the table top. I )0 As illustrated in Fig.2 the attachment as Serial N'o. 315,156.

herein shown is designed to receive and support a removable ash tray orreceptacle 13. By merely enlarging and differently shaping that part orportion of the attachment providing the tray support, any other form orcharacter of receptacle or container may be substituted for the tray.The attachment, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a clampdesignated as 14, a fitting designated as 15, and a support designatedas 16. The clamp 14, and in fact the entire attachment, is pref erablyconstructed of metal. Said clamp 14 comprises a vertically extendingbody portion 17, and at the opposite ends thereof, inwardly extendingtop and bottom portions 18 and 19 respectively. To better grip the tabletop or other structure to which the attachment is fastened, said topportion 18 is bent to extend off from said body portion 17 at an angleless than 90. The bottom portion 19, unlike said top portion, is bent toextend off from said body portion at substantially a right angle, andintermediatcly of its ends is provided with an upstanding boss 20 thruwhich a vertically adjustable exteriorly threaded clamping screw 21 iscarried. Said screw 21, at its upper end is rounded off, and at itsopposite end, beneath'the bottom portion 19 of the clamp, is providedwith an operating finger nut 22. By means of said nut the clamping screw21 is vertically or axially adjusted to engage and disengage thestructure to which the clamp 14 is fastened.

Threaded on that part or portion of the clamping screw 21 between thenut 22 and the bottom portion 19 of the clamp is the fitting 15. Saidfitting (see Fig. 5) is shaped to provide an elongated socket 23. Withinsaid socket 28 an interiorly threaded boss 24 is formed. This boss 24offers suflicient threaded length to receive the clamping screw 21. andby such threaded engagement, hold the fitting 15 in its adjustedposition. In forming the socket fitting, flat metal stock, having itsedges rolled or turned inwardly as indicated, may be used. Beingthreaded on said clamping screw the socket fitting, by rotation, may bevertically adjusted as well as turned to any angular position desired.

The support 16 for the tray or other containeris detachably fastened tosaid socket fitting. Said support comprises intersecting fiat metalstrips 25-26 fastened together at said point of intersection andprovided, each at its opposite ends with upstanding end portions 27-28which engage with and hold the tray 13 or other container in place. Oneof said strips, i. e., the strip 25, at one end, is carried or extendedaway from the tray to provide a supporting arm 29. This arm 29 isbifurcated or forked at its free end as at 30 and is so dimensioned bothin thickness and in width as to snuglyengage, without binding, in thesocket 23 of the fitting. Thus positioned, said arm 29 (and hence thesupport 16) is freely removable from its engagement in said socket, andduring insertion, by its engagement with the boss 24, is to a certainextent guided in its sliding movement. If desired, and where theattachment is used as an ash tray support, a holder 31 for a match book32 may be fastened to the body portion 17 of the clamp.

An attachment characterized as above set forth, if and when used asindicated, is advantageous in that the tray or container 13 can be swungbeneath the table top or extended for use as desired. When fastenedadjacent to one corner of the table top it can be swung from one to theother side of the table at will. Once fastened, the tray or containerand its support 16, can be removed by merely withdrawing the arm 29 fromits fitting engagement in the socket 23. Tables or other supportingstructures having tops of different thickness may be equipped with theattachments thru the wide range of adjustment accorded the clamp 14. Theattachment, furthermore, is inconspicuous, neat, and

simple. For the major part it is adapted to engage beneath the tablecovering, and where said covering overhangs the table edge, saidoverhanging portion of the covering can be dropped behind the match book32 as shown. Moreover, the adjusting or clamping screw 21 not onlyserves as a fastening means for clamping the attachment to the tabletop, but it serves also as a support for the socket fitting 15 and hencethe tray support 16, both of which said attachment parts are freelyrotatable and vertically adjustable by and as a result of the threadedengagement of said fitting with said screw.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferredembodiment, it will be obvious to'those skilled in the art afterunderstanding my invention, that various changes and modifications maybe made there in without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Iaim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What I claim is:

1 In an attachment of the character described, a support for acontainer, a clamp mcludmg an axially adjustable clamping screw, and asocket fitting threaded on and rotatably adjustable lengthwise saidscrew, said fitting comprising a fitting plate having inturned edgesbeneath which and by means of which said support is frictionally thoremovably held.

2. In an attachment of t.-e character described, a detachable supportfor a container, a forked end arm extending off from said support, aclamp including an axially adjustable clamping screw, a socket fittingcarried by and adjustable in its relation to said screw, said fittingcomprising a relatively flat fitting plate having mturned edges spacedtherefrom and between which and said plate the forked end arm is adaptedto frictionally engage, and an internally threaded boss formedintegrally with said plate and thru which said clamping screw extends,said boss being extended off from said plate to occupy the space betweenthe forked extensions of said arm.

3. In an attachment of the character described, a clamp including asubstantially vertical axis clamping screw, a freely rotatable socketfitting threaded on and vertically adjustable lengthwise said screw, anda horizontally extending detachable support for a container frictionallyheld within the socket of said fitting.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN MACDONALD NICHOLS.

